Wedding Day: Dan & Michi
The day is finally here – and although we could not make the wedding – we’d like to send a special “shout out” to Dan and Michi on their Wedding Day! As you walk down the road of life together, may your lives continue to grow in love and happiness! xo Mel & Jim xo
Save 10% on Wedding Photos
Love is in the air! Can you sniff it out between the crisp fall air and the pumpkin spice lattes? If you’re recently engaged, this offer is for you! Planning a fabulous wedding takes time and effort, that’s for sure! Scratch one less thing off your “to do” list and book a photography package in advance! For a limited time only, I’m offering 10% off any “Wedding Day Photo Package”! These are perfect for capturing your whole day! Book by October 15; limited dates are available!
After the vows and rings are exchanged, the wedding cake has been eaten, and the bouquet is tossed, the photos are what you have left to remember your wedding day! Your wedding is something you certainly want to remember with beautiful photographs and a lovely album. Be sure to e-mail me for details: info@fianderfoto.com
Bridal Portrait Shoot
I'm excited to share a few photos from a Bridal Portrait Shoot I planned and photographed with a team of talented vendors and models in Bermuda this past July. Photos to be released shortly, although to tide you over below is one of my top images to share as a “sneak peak”.
I’d like to send out special thanks to my husband, Jim West, for assisting with – well, everything on that day – especially the lighting. A massive thanks to videographer Lara Smith from LDS Multimedia, Michelle Geary from GIMI Flowers, Jenn Doe from Studio Wedding Hair Bermuda, Keisha Ramsey from Chrysalis Cosmetics, Jessica McGuinn from BHLDN, Rebecca Singleton from TABS, Ronnie Maughan from The English Sports Shop, Gaby Boyer from Bermudian Weddings, and perhaps the star of the shoot, Gail Musson – our seamstress! Last but not least – a huge shout out to our fabulous models Rachel Sawden and Ryan Gibbons; a photographer could not have asked for better folks to photograph. Stay tuned for the rest of the images!
Washington D.C. Wedding: Save 20%
Travel alert! We’re heading back to the District and are looking to shoot a wedding in the Washington D.C. area for April 30th & May 1st. Book these special travel dates and save 20% on your photo package! This special promo was also listed on 100 Layer Cake’s Promo Board! Feel free to get in touch with Melanie for details: info@fianderfoto.com.
Bridal Expo at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel in Bermuda
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!
I’ll be at the Orchid Spa Bridal Expo today at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer to capture your whole wedding day, be sure to stop by my “Fiander Foto” booth! If you book your 2016 wedding by the end of today, you’ll receive a free one-hour engagement shoot or a 10% discount on any "Wedding Day" Photo Package, which includes ten hours of coverage! There will also be a raffle for a free engagement session; come on down!
Valentine's Day Promo
In case you missed the e-mail promotion that was sent out, you can check it out right here! Book your Bermuda Wedding (or Washington D.C. Wedding) by Valentine's Day and receive a one hour free Engagement Session!
Photography Show: "Salt Stories: 10 Years Later" - Photo Essays By Melanie Fiander
Seasons Greetings to All! I'll be having a solo photography show titled, "Salt Stories: 10 Years Later" at Bermuda Society of Arts in Hamilton, Bermuda. I'll be showing 44 photographs in total. The collection of images makes up three photo essays, each one with a story to tell. However, there is a common element among all three; salt. Both in the literal and figurative senses salt is present in each photo essay. Opening night is on Friday, December 11th at 5:00 pm! We hope to see you there! The show will stay up through January 6, 2016.
BERMUDA SOCIETY OF ARTS
Friday, December 11, 2015
Opening at 5:00pm
Show - Bermuda Society of Arts | "Salt Stories: 10 Years Later"
I’m very happy to announce that I will be having my first solo photography show at The Bermuda Society of Arts in Hamilton, Bermuda! Salt Stories: 10 Years Later will opening on Friday, December 11th at 5:00pm and runs through January 6th, 2015. The show will feature 44 digital photographs that were shot between 2011 and 2015. This collection of images makes up three photo essays, each one with a story to tell. However, there is a common element among all three; salt. Both in the literal and figurative senses, salt is present in the photographs. It is seen in the ocean water, in the hands of a loved one, and in the sweat on a dance floor at a wedding. In attempts to capture honest moments in time, I found myself photographing what I call “salt moments”; a term I often used while attending The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine ten years ago. A photograph that allows the viewer to gaze into an action, space, or the mind of a subject, and feel empathy is a “salt moment.”
The first photo essay titled Aunt Mary was shot at my great aunt’s house in Brooklyn, New York, in October of this year. The underlying story is about my Aunt Mary, age 91 and the matriarch of our family, who is suffering from Dementia. Despite her illness, during my visit I viewed our conversations and interactions with each other to be slower, but still intact as it once was a year ago – five years ago – ten years ago. I’ve included photographs that show objects from her home and her surrounding spaces to give the viewer a sense of location, time, culture, and lifestyle. The sequence starts out with light and bright images and moves toward darker ones; a metaphor for her days. Aunt Mary’s mornings are sunny and clear, yet as the day moves on, she becomes cloudy and confused.
The second photo essay titled Like Father, Like Son is comprised of photographs I took of my husband, James West, and father-in-law, Blake West. These two men have worked together on and off as deep-sea fishermen for several decades in Bermuda. Their ability to work together both on the water and on land makes them a unique and well-respected father/son fishing duo. While making a living off of the ocean, they maintain a conservative approach towards fishing. In attempts to understand the minds of their fish, Blake and James move as the fish do. Father and Son are up well before the morning light to assess the weather and seek out blue water. My photographs offer a “behind the scenes” look at Blake’s and James’ day-to-day life.
My final set of images showcases my preferred stylistic approach to photographing weddings. Through the lens of my camera, I approach my subject with a documentary and photojournalistic eye. Whether I’m photographing a bride getting ready or during a speech, I aim to capture honest moments. The photographs in this series were shot at several different weddings and showcase how one’s big day is captured throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Ten years after attending The Salt Institute, my definition of a “true photo essay” has changed, although I still see traces of “salt moments” within my work. Once you are trained to capture a subject with a documentary approach, it’s not only the style of shooting that sticks with you year after year. It’s also the need to share a story as it occurred and to allow your viewer into that world.
To read more about my past photographic work, click "here".
The "Holiday Hustle Sale" is ON!
The Holiday Hustle Sale is back and bigger than ever! This year's deals are available for purchase now and run all the way through December 28, 2015! If you'd like to have some photos taken or buy a gift certificate for someone you know, be sure to schedule the shoot before March 30th, 2016 because the offers expire after this date. Act fast to reserve your date; limited space available!
To access an online gallery for the Archival Photos & Canvas Print sale, click "here". To access the Fiander Foto store for the Photo Package & Gift Certificate sale, click "here". Happy shopping!
To officially reserve a time, e-mail me {Melanie}: info@fianderfoto.com. A paid invoice and signed contract are required to book. All payments are final, non-refundable, and expire on March 30th, 2016. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts.
Wedding: Kaitlyn & James - Washington DC
Happy Anniversary to Kaitlyn & James! I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding in the fall of 2012! What made their wedding unique was that these two were - and still are - in the U.S. Army. With the help of their siblings and friends, they had planned their wedding while they were both deployed in Afghanistan! Given that they were overseas, Kaitlyn and James had never seen their chosen venue, taste-tested their menu, or met their vendors. Although, none of that mattered to these two; they were too excited to get married and their wedding day went off without a hitch! The morning of the wedding was very relaxed for the bride and groom: coffee (with a touch of Baileys added to it), hair, make-up, and an old fashion shave for James and his groomsmen, a quick "insignia polish", and finally, stepping into the white gown for the First Look.
Happy Anniversary to Kaitlyn & James! I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding in the fall of 2012! What made their wedding unique was that these two were - and still are - in the U.S. Army. With the help of their siblings and friends, they had planned their wedding while they were both deployed in Afghanistan! Given that they were overseas, Kaitlyn and James had never seen their chosen venue, taste-tested their menu, or met their vendors. Although, none of that mattered to these two; they were too excited to get married and their wedding day went off without a hitch! The morning of the wedding was very relaxed for the bride and groom: coffee (with a touch of Baileys added to it), hair, make-up, and an old fashion shave for James and his groomsmen, a quick "insignia polish", and finally, stepping into the white gown for the First Look.
Kaitlyn and James both come from military families. Both of Kaitlyn's parents were in the Army along with James' father, who served in the Vietnam War. It was very important for Kaitlyn and James to squeeze in a Bridal Portrait Shoot after their First Look photos at a few of the Monuments in Washington D.C.! Before the ceremony at Saint Joseph's in Old Town, Alexandria, we popped over to the Jefferson Memorial and Roosevelt Island.
The wedding ceremony took place at the historic Saint Joseph's Church in Old Town, Alexandria. After Kaitlyn and James said their "I Dos", we took a few family portraits at the alter. As the couple exited the building, James' groomsmen formed a Saber Arch for the two to pass under. What military wedding would be complete without requesting a kiss from the bride and groom before crossing through the arch?
After the ceremony, Chariots for Hire picked up the bridal party and a few relatives for a quick spin in a party bus around town! From there, the reception kicked off at the Hilton, right off King Street! The bridal party was announced; each pair danced into the room. A brilliant cake cutting and smashing followed. Guests of all ages enjoyed their photo booth and danced the night away!
Since these two have gotten married, they've had a beautiful little boy and are expecting their second child shortly. Kaitlyn & James are still serving in the Army, are stationed in Germany, and have both earned the rank of "Major". I think it's fair to say that these two are a great fit together! Happy Anniversary and cheers to many more!
